UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO - NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SINGLE SOURCE CONTRACT: #21-019
International tobacco control (ITC) research survey panels, Japan - longitudinal study
The University of Waterloo (UW) intends to award a contract for the continuation of services supporting international survey panels in Japan, to Rakuten Insight, of New York, NY, USA, as outlined below.
This is an advanced Notice indicating to the supplier community that UW intends to award a contract for these services to a pre-identified supplier. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date of this notice, a challenge with a suitable plan for an alternate approach, the competitive requirements of the University are considered to have been met. Following notification to any suppliers not successful in demonstrating an approach that is in the best interests of the University, the contract will then be awarded to the pre-identified supplier.
Overview
The University of Waterloo’s Department of Psychology is engaged in an international longitudinal study that conducts on-line surveys for the International Tobacco Control Policy (ITCP). This contract, supported by CIHR Foundation Grant #FDN-148477, entitled “Evaluating and Understanding the Impact of Tobacco Control Policies of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in a Rapidly Changing Global Tobacco Market: The International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project”, will include access to the Rakuten Insight consumer panel in Japan for conducting the surveys.
This survey activity is for wave 4 of the Japan survey data collection, using Rakuten’s samples for this adult study. By retaining Rakuten, the University of Waterloo will be able re-assess respondents from previous waves to examine changes over time; costs have been estimated on a retention rate of at least 70%.
The budget for these services is expected to be less than CAD $150,000 (not including HST).
PROPOSED SOLUTION:
In order to continue the work done to date, and without interruption, the University of Waterloo’s Department of Psychology research team has requested a continuation of services with Rakuten to preserve the continuity of the longitudinal research.
SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION:
Rakuten Insight is the only nationally representative web panel of 2.4 million members. In addition, Rakuten is also the provider of another longitudinal cohort study of tobacco use in Japan, allowing UW’s study as comparable to that tobacco study. This correlation would not be possible if we changed to a different survey agency, using different commercial panels of adult respondents.
Process
Agencies who wish to challenge the award of this work may, in writing, detail their reasons, including their suggested alternate approach, to the attention of the contact person identified below, on or before the closing date of this Notice.
Date of issue: February 11, 2021
Closing Date: February 26, 2021, at 2:30 P.M. Eastern Time
Contact:
Christine Wagner, CPPB, CSCP – Procurement Specialist, Research
Procurement and Contract Services
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Ph: 519-888-4567 ext. 32074
Email – cpwagner@uwaterloo.ca, or, procure@uwaterloo.ca
